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Mississippi

Mississippi Occupational Licensing

65 out of 102 moderate-income occupations licensed

44th most burdensome licensing laws for moderate-income occupations

Average Fees for Licenses:$343

Mississippi Licensing Overview

Mississippi licenses 65 out of 102 lower-income occupations (more than half of the occupations included in the study) . The state’s licensing laws are less burdensome than most other states. The state's licensing laws rank 44th in the nation.

On average, Mississippi requires $343 in licensing fees, 169 days of education and about 2 exam. Fees for a license exceed $1000 for Fire Alarm Installer, Security Alarm Installer.

Which occupation in a Mississippi is the most regulated?

Out of the 65 occupations that require an occupational license in Mississippi, a license for Preschool Teacher, Public School has the highest burden. A Preschool Teacher, Public School license requires $367 in fees, 3 exams, no experience, and 4 years of education.

Which occupation in a Mississippi is the least regulated?

Out of the 65 occupations that require an occupational license in Mississippi, a license for Taxidermist has the lowest burden. A Taxidermist license requires $12 in fees, no exams, no experience, and no of education.

Which occupational license in Mississippi is the most expensive?

An occupational license in Mississippi costs the most for Fire Alarm Installer, Security Alarm Installer where the license costs $1290.

Which occupational license in Mississippi is the least expensive?

An occupational license for in Mississippi costs the least for Pest Control Applicator, Vegetation Pesticide Applicator, Landscape Contractor (Residential), Milk Sampler where the license costs $0.

Which occupational license in Mississippi takes the most time to obtain?

In Mississippi, an occupational license takes the most time (due to required education/experience) for Preschool Teacher, Public School, Athletic Trainer.It takes 1460 days (4 years) total.

Which occupational license in Mississippi takes the least time to obtain?

In Mississippi, an occupational license takes the least time due to required education/experience (0 days) for Bus Driver, City/Transit, Truck Driver, Tractor-Trailer, Pharmacy Technician, Truck Driver, Other, Gaming Cage Worker, Gaming Dealer, Gaming Supervisor, Slot Supervisor, Interpreter, Sign Language, Weigher, Mobile Home Installer, Milk Sampler, Fisher, Commercial, Taxidermist.

In Mississippi, which occupational licenses require exams?

In Mississippi, to obtain an occupational license there is at least one exam required for: Preschool Teacher, Public School, Athletic Trainer, Earth Driller, Water Well, Veterinary Technician, Pest Control Applicator, Landscape Contractor (Commercial), Vegetation Pesticide Applicator, Cosmetologist, Barber, Shampooer, Landscape Contractor (Residential), Massage Therapist, Skin Care Specialist, Manicurist, Fire Alarm Installer, Security Alarm Installer, Emergency Medical Technician, Auctioneer, Carpenter/Cabinet Maker Contractor (Commercial), Cement Finishing Contractor (Commercial), Drywall Installation Contractor (Commercial), Glazier Contractor (Commercial), HVAC Contractor (Commercial), Iron/Steel Contractor (Commercial), Painting Contractor (Commercial), Paving Contractor (Commercial), Pipelayer Contractor, Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Commercial), Sheet Metal Contractor, Other (Commercial), Terrazzo Contractor (Commercial), School Bus Driver, Door Repair Contractor (Commercial), Insulation Contractor (Commercial), Mason Contractor (Commercial), Carpenter/Cabinet Maker Contractor (Residential), Cement Finishing Contractor (Residential), Door Repair Contractor (Residential), Drywall Installation Contractor (Residential), Floor Sander Contractor (Residential), Glazier Contractor (Residential), HVAC Contractor (Residential), Insulation Contractor (Residential), Iron/Steel Contractor (Residential), Mason Contractor (Residential), Painting Contractor (Residential), Paving Contractor (Residential), Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Residential), Sheet Metal Contractor, Other (Residential), Terrazzo Contractor (Residential), Bus Driver, City/Transit, Truck Driver, Tractor-Trailer, Truck Driver, Other, Interpreter, Sign Language, Mobile Home Installer, Milk Sampler. School Bus Driver requires 6 exams.

Mississippi’s licensing laws for lower-income occupations are only the 46th most burdensome in the nation, requiring, on average, $330 in fees, 160 days of education and experience, and roughly two exams. However, because Mississippi licenses more lower-income occupations than average—66 of the 102 studied here—it is the 19th most broadly and onerously licensed state.

Mississippi’s laws are less burdensome than most, but its fees for some licenses are much higher than average. For example, fire and security alarm installers face fees of $1,090 before they can work in Mississippi. But the average fees across other states that license those occupations are about half that—$557 and $487, respectively.

Mississippi also imposes more extensive education requirements on some occupations than on others that may present greater risks to the public. For example, barbers and cosmetologists must complete roughly 350 days (1,500 hours) of education—nearly a year—to become licensed. Similarly, makeup artists must complete around 140 days (600 hours) of education and manicurists around 82 days (350 hours). EMTs, on the other hand, are deemed capable first responders after just 28 days (120 hours) of education. Mississippi can expand opportunity for workers by easing its barriers to entry for personal care occupations and other lower-income occupations. In keeping with 2017 legislation that enacted a policy favoring less restrictive alternatives to licensing, the state should also review all existing licenses to identify those that can be repealed and—if government regulation is necessary—replaced with less burdensome alternatives.

Mississippi State Licensing Requirements for Lower-Income Occupations

Select a chart to view:
Burden Rank Occupation Number of States that License Fees Education/Experience (Days) Education Experience Exams Minimum Grade Minimum Age
1 Preschool Teacher, Public School 50 367 1460 4 years None 3 0 0
2 Athletic Trainer 49 490 1460 4 years None 1 0 0
3 Earth Driller, Water Well 51 620 1095 None 3 years 4 0 21
4 Child Care Home, Family 44 190 732 9 clock hours & 2 years None 0 12 21
5 Veterinary Technician 36 425 730 2 years None 2 0 18
6 Pest Control Applicator 51 0 730 2 years None 2 0 18
7 Landscape Contractor (Commercial) 47 640 432 None 1 year & 3 jobs, contractors 3 12 0
8 Vegetation Pesticide Applicator 51 0 365 None 1 year 4 12 18
9 Cosmetologist 51 245 350 1500 clock hours None 2 12 17
10 Barber 51 100 350 1500 clock hours None 2 12 0
10 Shampooer 33 100 350 1500 clock hours None 2 12 0
12 Landscape Contractor (Residential) 48 0 365 None 1 year 1 12 0
13 Massage Therapist 45 445 163 700 clock hours None 2 12 18
14 Skin Care Specialist 51 245 140 600 clock hours None 2 12 17
15 Manicurist 51 335 82 350 clock hours None 2 12 17
16 Fire Alarm Installer 39 1290 72 28 clock hours 3 jobs, contractors 2 0 0
16 Security Alarm Installer 37 1290 72 28 clock hours 3 jobs, contractors 2 0 0
18 Emergency Medical Technician 51 138 39 165 clock hours None 2 12 18
19 Auctioneer 28 300 11 7.5 days None 1 12 18
20 Carpenter/Cabinet Maker Contractor (Commercial) 25 640 67 None 3 jobs, contractors 2 0 0
20 Cement Finishing Contractor (Commercial) 24 640 67 None 3 jobs, contractors 2 0 0
20 Drywall Installation Contractor (Commercial) 25 640 67 None 3 jobs, contractors 2 0 0
20 Glazier Contractor (Commercial) 26 640 67 None 3 jobs, contractors 2 0 0
20 HVAC Contractor (Commercial) 37 640 67 None 3 jobs, contractors 2 0 0
20 Iron/Steel Contractor (Commercial) 26 640 67 None 3 jobs, contractors 2 0 0
20 Painting Contractor (Commercial) 22 640 67 None 3 jobs, contractors 2 0 0
20 Paving Contractor (Commercial) 24 640 67 None 3 jobs, contractors 2 0 0
20 Pipelayer Contractor 27 640 67 None 3 jobs, contractors 2 0 0
20 Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Commercial) 37 640 67 None 3 jobs, contractors 2 0 0
20 Sheet Metal Contractor, Other (Commercial) 26 640 67 None 3 jobs, contractors 2 0 0
20 Terrazzo Contractor (Commercial) 23 640 67 None 3 jobs, contractors 2 0 0
32 School Bus Driver 51 106 1 8 clock hours None 6 0 18
33 Door Repair Contractor (Commercial) 24 520 67 None 3 jobs, contractors 1 0 0
33 Insulation Contractor (Commercial) 24 520 67 None 3 jobs, contractors 1 0 0
33 Mason Contractor (Commercial) 26 520 67 None 3 jobs, contractors 1 0 0
36 Carpenter/Cabinet Maker Contractor (Residential) 30 290 67 None 3 jobs, contractors 2 0 0
36 Cement Finishing Contractor (Residential) 30 290 67 None 3 jobs, contractors 2 0 0
36 Door Repair Contractor (Residential) 29 290 67 None 3 jobs, contractors 2 0 0
36 Drywall Installation Contractor (Residential) 30 290 67 None 3 jobs, contractors 2 0 0
36 Floor Sander Contractor (Residential) 27 290 67 None 3 jobs, contractors 2 0 0
36 Glazier Contractor (Residential) 30 290 67 None 3 jobs, contractors 2 0 0
36 HVAC Contractor (Residential) 35 290 67 None 3 jobs, contractors 2 0 0
36 Insulation Contractor (Residential) 30 290 67 None 3 jobs, contractors 2 0 0
36 Iron/Steel Contractor (Residential) 30 290 67 None 3 jobs, contractors 2 0 0
36 Mason Contractor (Residential) 31 290 67 None 3 jobs, contractors 2 0 0
36 Painting Contractor (Residential) 27 290 67 None 3 jobs, contractors 2 0 0
36 Paving Contractor (Residential) 28 290 67 None 3 jobs, contractors 2 0 0
36 Sheet Metal Contractor, HVAC (Residential) 36 290 67 None 3 jobs, contractors 2 0 0
36 Sheet Metal Contractor, Other (Residential) 31 290 67 None 3 jobs, contractors 2 0 0
36 Terrazzo Contractor (Residential) 28 290 67 None 3 jobs, contractors 2 0 0
51 Bus Driver, City/Transit 51 101 0 None None 5 0 17
52 Truck Driver, Tractor-Trailer 51 96 0 None None 5 0 17
53 Pharmacy Technician 44 90 0 None None 0 12 18
54 Truck Driver, Other 51 96 0 None None 4 0 17
55 Gaming Cage Worker 30 125 0 None None 0 0 21
55 Gaming Dealer 29 125 0 None None 0 0 21
55 Gaming Supervisor 31 125 0 None None 0 0 21
55 Slot Supervisor 29 125 0 None None 0 0 21
59 Interpreter, Sign Language 22 225 0 None None 2 0 0
60 Weigher 24 25 0 None None 0 0 21
61 Mobile Home Installer 37 100 0 None None 1 0 0
62 Milk Sampler 43 0 0 None None 1 0 0
63 Coach, Head (High School Sports) 47 75 2 14 clock hours None 0 0 0
64 Fisher, Commercial 43 30 0 None None 0 0 0
65 Taxidermist 28 12 0 None None 0 0 0

License to Work

The data and information here come from IJ’s License to Work report, released in November 2022.

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